They said the newly formed Gram Sarkar units could not function effectively as the units were formed without people's participation.

Rather, the system might destroy the union parishad tier of the local government, they added.

The Bangladesh Centre for Development of Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) organised the workshop on 'Role of media in strengthening local government' in association with the Local Government and Development Journalists Forum. The Local Government Initiative (LGI) sponsored the workshop.

Presenting a survey on Gram Sarkar, based on newspaper reports, Journalist Ajay Dasgupta said more than 40,000 Gram Sarkar units were formed across the country during the period from August 2 to September 15, 2003.

But in most cases, Gram Sarker had been formed without having quorum or in violation of rules and regulations, he added.

The opposition parties also boycotted Gram Sarkar in most cases, Ajay said, adding that even common people were not aware of its activities.

Dr. William James Cartier, chief of party of LGI-USAID initiative in Bangladesh, Nayeemul Islam Khan of BCDJC, Deputy Editor of the Prothom Alo Mozammel Hossain Monju, News editor of the Jugantor Ahmed Faruk Hasan and Mustafiz Shafi also spoke.